Noble Energy makes deepwater gulf gas discovery

A group led by Noble Energy Inc. reported making a natural gas discovery with its Troubadour prospect in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. The well, drilled in Noble’s Big Bend/Troubadour Rio Grande area, was drilled to a total depth of 19,510 ft in 7,273 ft of water on Mississippi Canyon Block 699. Reservoir and fluid measurement logs identified 50 ft of net gas pay in a high-quality Miocene reservoir, Noble said.

“Results from the well have provided critical new information that indicates a greater than previously predicted oil recovery in the Rio Grande complex,” Noble said. “Discovered gross resources in this area are now estimated at between 50 and 100 million boe, with 75% representing oil volumes. We are moving forward our development planning as subsea tiebacks to an existing host facility. Initial project sanction is targeted by the end of this year and first production is planned toward the end of 2015,” the company said.

The Troubadour discovery well is being temporarily abandoned for future development. Following completion of operations at Troubadour, Noble plans to move the drilling rig to the Dantzler prospect on MC Blocks 738/782. Dantzler is operated by Noble with a 65% participating interest and is targeting a resource range, based on 75th and 25th percentile probabilities, of 50-220 million boe gross. Results from the exploration well are anticipated by yearend.

Noble operates Big Bend with a 54% participating interest and Troubadour with a 60% interest. Other interest owners at Big Bend include Red Willow Offshore LLC 15.4%, Houston Energy Deepwater Ventures V LLC 10.6% and W&T Offshore Inc. unit W&T Energy VI LLC 20%. W&T Energy VI LLC and Deep Gulf Energy II LLC participate in Troubadour with 20% each.

In late-2012, a group led by Noble discovered 150 ft of net oil pay in two high-quality Miocene reservoirs in a Big Bend prospect that reached 15,989 ft in 7,200 ft of water on MC Block 698 (OGJ Online, Nov. 28, 2012).